Sunday, January 23, 2011

1K swim in icewater

In 8th of January 2011, the second winter swimming festival Pirita Open 2011 was held in Pirita river, Tallinn, Estonia. About 150 winter swimmers from Estonia, Finland, Russia, Latvia and Germany gathered to swim in freezing waters of Pirita river. 25m pool with 2 lanes was cut in almost 60cm-thick ice. The weather was relatively mild with -1C air temperature and slight breeze but water temperature at 0,4C was just what one could expect.

The day started with show perfomance from finnish ice swimmers and continued with the first competitive event - 25m heads-up breaststroke. 112 swimmers started (and finished) this distance and the fastest man was Bruno Nopponen (16,30 seconds) and fastest woman Epp Kruusmaa (19,42 seconds).

Then there was time for fresh penguins to take their first dip ever in icewater. About 20 newcomers used the chance and the day continued with 50m freestyle competition. 64 men and women competed and the fastest were respectively Bruno Nopponen (27,67 seconds) and Kristiina Arusoo (36,55 seconds). Note that there are several differences in winter swimming compared to regular pool swimming - start is from the water, diving is prohibited at any time, flip turns are not allowed and as the bottom of the pool cannot be seen, holding the straight line during swimming is impeded.

Next event was 4x25 meter freestyle relay. Again, all the starts were from the water and according to the rules of International Winter Swimming Federation, both sexes should be represented in a team. Participation was numerous with 12 teams competing each other. The fastest finish time of 55,74 seconds was recorded for Viimsi Veeklubi Polar Bears, the team in which I was lucky to swim. The pool was fast as the result of relay team was faster than our gold medal time from last year's world championships in Bled.

I quickly changed clothes after short sauna and start preparing for the last competitive event of the day - endurance swim. Usual distance of endurance swim in winter swimming is 450 meters. As the fastest swimmers cover this distance in about 6 minutes, it is probably one of the shortest 'endurance' events in sport. However, as it takes 15-20 minutes for some winter swimming enthusiasts to cover this distance, one can say that 'endurance' is the right word here. As I have swam 450m already in 4 winter swimming seasons, I started to wonder few months ago, which distance I could cover in 15 minutes. 1000 meters seemed to be the right answer and appropriate goal for Pirita Open. So keeping this in mind, I prepared myself in preceding months and weeks by swimming couple of endurance swims of 200-600m every week.

I warmed myself thoroughly in sauna and dressed warmly. I wanted my whole body from toes to fingers to be warm before entering 0 degree water. Head was protected from the cold by 2 swimming caps and slicone earplugs. Meanwhile, Toomas Haggi posted fast time of 6 minutes and 21 seconds 2 heats before my swim. So I had 2 goals now - to swim 450 meters under 6.20 and to finish 1000 meters.
 9 swimmers, which was pleasently many, started endurance swim. I was in the last heat and swam alone.
The start was quick and easy. Even so quick that I didn't believe my ears afterwards that I started first 100 meters in 1.08. That's rather quick for me even in warm pool with flip turns. I kept the steady pace and didn't accelerated as 450 meters approached - my primary goal was 1K here and it seemed that I'm beating Toomas Haggi's time.

Most of the people who had stayed there in the end of a long day had no idea, I was going to swim 1K, so there's little surprise for them. As I continued swimming after 450 meters, the rescuers got little confused and waved to me from the side of the pool. "Don't worry, I got everything under control", I thought. Most important was not to swim 1000 meters but to stop before hurting myself. Hands and feet got numb as time passed but that was familiar feeling and nothing alarmingly new. Body adapts to the cold quickly after the first sprint and in some moment after 10 minutes of swimming it felt like almost normal swim during an August night. In the same time, I rationally realised that the minutes I am allowed to have fun here are numbered. At 800 meters I felt still strong and reasonably quick and then it was sure, I am going to finish 1000 meters.

No need to sprint to the finish line - my last 50 meter lap was the slowest, but feeling was good and certainly I didn't reach my limit today. Finish time 14 minutes and 58 seconds was nicely just below 15 minutes. Friends hurried to help me out of the water although without direct need and I headed directly to the sauna. 
Celebrating and handshaking can wait, right now I have to take care of my core temperature. In sauna, of course I stayed in dressing room as sudden heating of a cold body can be dangerous and cause a shock. Heating up occurred through the help of blankets and warm drink. Winter swimmers, remember: drink must be sweet, not too hot and not coffee or black tea as these take water out of the body. Body temperature measured from mouth was 32C which is lower limit of mild hypothermia. Shivering was as usual after long swimming but lasted for a longer time. Probably after 30 minutes of warming I was out of the sauna.

As far as I know, it was the first 1K swim in icewater in the history of Estonian swimming. If you do know about long distance swims in cold water in Estonia or elsewhere, please let me know here or mail henrikaarma@gmail.com
Thanks for everyone who supported me during or after the swim.

Good luck, winter swimmers!
Henri Kaarma

Split times of 1000m, 50 meter splits in last column.
50         0.31   31
100       1.08   37
150       1.48   40
200       2.30   42
250       3.13   43
300       3.56   43
350       4.40   44
400       5.24   44
450       6.09   45
500       6.54   45
550       7.39   45
600       8.25   46
650       9.11   46
700       9.59   48
750     10.47   48
800     11.36   49
850     12.26   50
900     13.16   50
950     14.06   50
1000   14.58   52

photo by Tiit Mõtus.  "Take the clothes off" is unique command in winter swimming sport.





photo by Tiit Mõtus. Goggles on.




photo by Tiit Mõtus. Right after start.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. After 350 meters.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 5 minutes of swim, almost 400 meters.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 450 meters, no plans of stopping.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. After 450 meter turn.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. Rescuers realize that this swim continues for a while.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 500 meters, half the distance.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 600 meters, a little more than half the time.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 650 meters.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 850 meters
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 900 meters
photo by Tiit Mõtus. 900 meters.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. Yes, I did it!
photo by Tiit Mõtus. Yes, I can see the ladder here.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. Climbing out.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. My companions were very helpful.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. More helping hands.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. Out of the sauna.
photo by Tiit Mõtus.
photo by Tiit Mõtus.
photo by Tiit Mõtus.
photo by Tiit Mõtus. I received my medal and diploma during afterparty as I was in sauna during medal ceremony :)
photo by Tiit Mõtus.

26 comments:

SFB said...

wow that is amazing!

Anonymous said...

Greetings! Very useful advice within this post! It's the little changes that make the largest changes. Thanks for sharing!
Also visit my website :: equity loans home

Anonymous said...

This post is really a fastidious one it assists new the web users, who are wishing in favor of blogging.
My website beach resorts

Anonymous said...

What's up colleagues, how is the whole thing, and what you would like to say on the topic of this article, in my view its genuinely amazing in support of me.
Also visit my web site : beiträge der krankenversicherung

Anonymous said...

Hey there! I know this is kinda off topic but I'd figured I'd
ask. Would you be interested in trading links or maybe guest writing a blog article or vice-versa?
My site goes over a lot of the same topics as yours
and I believe we could greatly benefit from each other.
If you happen to be interested feel free to send me an
email. I look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
Also see my website > ideas for new businesses

Anonymous said...

I am no longer certain where you are getting your information, however great topic.

I needs to spend some time learning much more or figuring out more.

Thanks for excellent info I was searching for this information for
my mission.

Here is my web blog :: größte private krankenversicherung
Feel free to surf my blog -

Anonymous said...

I think that is among the such a lot important information for me.
And i am satisfied reading your article. However wanna remark on few common things,
The website taste is ideal, the articles is actually excellent :
D. Just right job, cheers

Feel free to surf to my blog ... Wechsel pkv in gkv
My site

Anonymous said...


Your style is really unique in comparison to other folks I've read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I will just book mark this site.

Anonymous said...

I know this if off topic but I'm looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is needed to get setup? I'm assuming having a
blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I'm not very internet smart so I'm not 100% sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Kudos
Here is my webpage jobs from home ideas

Anonymous said...

Thanks , I have recently been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I've came upon till now. But, what about the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the source?
Here is my web-site - freelance seo expert

Anonymous said...

I am now not positive where you are getting your information, but
great topic. I must spend a while finding out much more or figuring out more.
Thank you for fantastic info I was searching
for this information for my mission.
My site : http://doctor.Dp.ua/index.php?do=/blog/14414/Ideas-about-how-you-can-fix-your-credit/

Anonymous said...

Spot on with this write-up, I truly think this amazing site
needs a great deal more attention. I'll probably be returning to read through more, thanks for the information!
Feel free to visit my homepage :: private krankenversicherung vorteile

Anonymous said...

My relatives all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, but I
know I am getting knowledge everyday by reading such pleasant posts.
Review my site bad credit rating loans

Anonymous said...

Do you mind if I quote a few of your articles
as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site?
My blog is in the very same niche as yours and
my visitors would really benefit from a lot of the information you present here.
Please let me know if this okay with you. Thanks
a lot!
My blog post - student loan refinance rates

Anonymous said...

I really like it when individuals get together and share views.
Great website, keep it up!

my blog affiliate market place

Anonymous said...

I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog.
Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it's rare to see a nice blog like this one nowadays.

Also visit my web site; handyverträge trotz negativer schufa

Anonymous said...

Your style is really unique compared to other folks I have read stuff from.

Thank you for posting when you've got the opportunity, Guess I will just bookmark this page.

My weblog voraussetzung private krankenversicherung

Anonymous said...

Hi there, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar one and i was just curious if you get
a lot of spam remarks? If so how do you reduce it, any plugin or anything
you can suggest? I get so much lately it's driving me mad so any assistance is very much appreciated.

Feel free to visit my page :: reseller vps

Anonymous said...

Good day! This is kind of off topic but I need some guidance
from an established blog. Is it difficult to set up your own blog?
I'm not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick. I'm
thinking about making my own but I'm not sure where to start. Do you have any tips or suggestions? Many thanks

Here is my weblog ... entrepreneur fair ideas

Anonymous said...

Excellent items from you, man. I have take into accout your stuff prior
to and you are just extremely fantastic. I actually like what you've received here, really like what you are saying and the best way in which you say it. You're making it
enjoyable and you continue to care for to stay it
sensible. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a
tremendous website.

Here is my blog; virgin island vacation package

Anonymous said...

Right now it appears like Movable Type is the preferred blogging platform available
right now. (from what I've read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

Feel free to surf to my weblog: government student loans consolidation
Also see my web site - alternate Student loans

Anonymous said...

Hi, always i used to check blog posts here in
the early hours in the dawn, since i like to learn more and
more.

Here is my website Private Pflegeversicherung Kosten
my web site - http://matap.dmae.upm.es/wiki/index.php?title=Make_Wonderful_Web_Advertising_Choices_With_This_Suggestions

Anonymous said...

Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up.
The text in your content seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
I'm not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with web browser compatibility but I thought I'd post to let
you know. The design look great though! Hope you get the issue resolved soon.
Thanks

my website :: home loan mortgage refinance loan

Anonymous said...

Inspiring quest there. What occurred after? Take care!


Feel free to surf to my weblog: Consolidate student loans interest rate

Anonymous said...

experienced its own Website to del.icio.us today and seriously liked
it .. I bookmarked and are going to be back to check out a little later .
.

Review my homepage: beiträge private krankenkasse

Anonymous said...

Hi. I record several of the other posts and desired to give thanks you

Here is my weblog krankenversicherung ohne arbeit